William of Jülich-Cleves-Berg

William of Jülich-Cleves-Berg (28 July 1516-5 January 1592) was Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg from 6 February 1539 to 5 January 1592, succeeding John III of Cleves and preceding John William of Jülich-Cleves-Berg.

Biography
William was born in Düsseldorf, Duchy of Berg on 28 July 1516, the son of Duke John III of Cleves and Maria of Jülich-Berg. In 1539, he united their combined lands, Jülich-Cleves-Berg, and, from 1538 to 1543, he also ruled Guelders. He married Jeanne d'Albret and allied with France in order to protect Guelders from Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, but, in 1543, he was defeated by the Imperial forces without any assistance from France. Guelders and Zutphen were annexed into the Habsburg Netherlands as a result of the war. He responded by creating fortresses at Jülich, Düsseldorf, and Orsoy to protect his realm from the Habsburgs. He also married off his sister Anne of Cleves to King Henry VIII of England, creating an alliance between England and the Protestant league. William died in 1592.